The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
Parallel translations
- WEB The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?”
- BSB At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”
- ESV The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”
- NKJV Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
- NASB So the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?”
- NLT His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar are amazed and question whether he is the same man. The dramatic change provokes confusion.
Overview
The man's transformation is so complete that those who knew him debate his identity. Their astonishment testifies to the reality and magnitude of the miracle. This public response sets in motion the investigation that follows, in which the healed man will boldly testify to Jesus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Sam 2:8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
- Acts 3:2–11And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
- Luke 16:20–22And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
- 1 Sam 21:11And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
- Mark 10:46And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
- Luke 18:35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
- Ruth 1:19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 9:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.